The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-10-20
shortest and happiest MiIIie had ever

Oao O6ys
81 enjoy talking with him because
he is so iIy-that is all, mother. said
Mile, as though she were the most
heartless coquette in the world.
But the observant mother knew
better.
Mind what say, child" Mrs.
Leaver persisted.
The very next morning, as Mile
was filing vase with fresh flowers in
MIR. Bronson's room, she noticed
photograph on q small easel on the
dressing-tabl
1t was of q woman, young and very
beautiful, although there was some
thing in the slightly hollow cheeks
that indicated falling health in the
original.
Millie looked at it with q sudden
pang of jealousy. This changed to a
different yet keener pain as she took
it up and read upon the back these
words, written with a pen:
my FIRST and only love-
And underneath q name and date,
as follows:
Maud Hawley Bronson. married December
S3rd, 1885. died February 3rd, 1885. p. L. B.
As Miles gaze devoured these lines,
it grew suddenly dark about her. She
would have tainted had she not been
called to more practical action by the
voice of Dick, her twe1ve-year-old
brother, calling from the foot of the
stairs:
'sMilliei Miller
eyes, in q moment? she responded.
"To think that he is widower, and
as happy and thoughtless as a school
boy, and his poor, beautiful wife in
her grave only four months" whirled
through Miles brain as she ran into
her own room to compose her face be-
fore the glass, that her mother might
not see her suffering.
''Why don't you come along, and
not keep your beau waiting all dayg
came again from below, in accents
that might have been heard for an
eighth of a mile in all directions.
There was no further danger OF
| bounded, her cheeks famed.
paul Bronson waiting for mel" she
exclaimed.
She compressed her lips for one In
tense moment, and then said:
al will see him, and Il"
What she would do was left un-
spoken. She ran down the stairs, and
found Paul in the porch, watching q
rather spirited horse from the village
'sObliged to drive over to Ridgway
ten miles-thought you might like
to co." he explained.
tIBetter ride out with yer beauw in.
| terpolated Dick, with a youngsters
| delight in an older sisters confusion.
'sPut on your hat. Millie-it is warm
| enough-and never mind about an
other dress, for you are enchanting
enough in the one You have on,
added Mr.. Bronson.
81 will go with him" thought Mile
with vague determination to make
this heartless widower suffer as he de
served for his levity.
AS she went for her hat she met hel
mother face to face.
'.Millie, what has happenedP" wa.
the anxious inquiry.
Nothing, mother" trying to breal
away from the gentle, OBTAINING hand
Tell me, child. You are pale as 1
ghost"
.Pm going to ride, mother. Pleas
let me go?
And she broke away, and in a mo
ment more was seated beside Pau
Bronson in the light trap.
| They were well out upon the shadv
road, with the soft June breeze an(
piney fra rance blowing in their faces
before word was uttered.
"How very dignified you have be
come, Milliel" he at length said.
There are occasions when it
sminently proper to be digniied," sh
frigidly retorted.
| He looked at her in quizzical sur
prise.
'.IndeedI" he remarked.
And then, after an interval Of 'se1o
quent silence:"
"You remember, Mile, that when
first met you I said / had certain
young lady in mind to whom mean
to make proposal of marriage whel
we became little better acquaintedp
81 remember" Millie returned, in
tone intended to express her mos
bitter scorn, ''that you have made
great many absurd and-and sacri
Iegious remarks; and you ought to b
ashamed of yourself-there!n
!. Paul Bronson looked to see if ther
was the light of insanity in Mile
eyes: he saw only indignation an
tears.
t'Tell me, darling, what 1 have sal
or done to offend you'll" She shran
away from him.
II shall not listen to such languag
: from "a widower! And your fir
and only love hardly in her grave
. too! And now you would make loV
to-to-me!'
, Her voice broke. She covered he
face with her hands. The hors
walked slowly, and there was yer
long interval of silence.
At last Mile stole q sly glance a
the face of her companion to see hOI
, he bore up under the deserved denur
, citation.
He seemed to be bearing up undo
ing in a silent fit of laughter. h
sobered instantly, however, when b
saw that she was looking at him.
: Before she could demonstrate, b
had clasped her in his arms.
i ''You are my first and only love
} he cried; ''and know that am YOU
also, for no woman ever uttered sue
} | bitter words to one she did not low
! Hear me, Millie," as she tried to brea
away from him: 81 am not a widowel
, | ! never had a wife; never shall hay
/ ! one unless you accept me; and th
, photograph which you must have see
! on my table-that is the cause of
| ridiculous misunderstanding on yoI
part. / received it from my broths
Philip yesterday. It is a picture {
| his wife, who died last February, an
, he wrote those words on the bacl
t | over his own initials, which are Il
J same as mine. That is all, darlin,
and it clears up the terribly forbidden
cloud, doesn't ftp"
What need was there of an answe
} with her head nesting upon b
shoulder? And when they returne
from their drive, and Paul assiste
: radiant-faced Mile to alight, Dick, Il
irrepressible, exclaimed, loud enoue
for everybody on the premises to hea
"rl bet Miles teller has poppt
, the question:
Commodore Melville.
, George w. Melville, who has bee
> promoted TO the highest position a
tanned in the Navy Engineer Corp
> that of Chief with the ran